Hopper vibrator



7 Sept; 2,1941. 1 H. R.' PURSEL I 4,

- HOPPER VIBRATOR r Filed May 17, 1940 INVENTOR. HAPOZD P- PUESEZ ATTOP/VfYS' Patented Sept. 2, 1941 HOPPER VIBRATOR Harold R. Purse], Philadelphia, Pa. assignor to The Allen-Sherman-Hofl Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,803

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hopper constructions and more particularly to an improved apparatus for preventing arching or bridging of material across the outlet opening of a hopper.

For the storage and handling of divided solids such as ash, sand,- powdered coal, etc., hoppers are commonly employed having converging walls and a bottom outlet opening equipped with suitable gate' or door. When material is to be discharged from the hopper the bottom gate is opened permitting the ash or the like to flow through the outlet. However, difficulty is experienced due to the tendency of such materials to arch or bridge across the bottom portion of the hopper above the outlet opening with resulting stoppage of the flow through the outlet. To prevent this difiiculty it has previously been proposed to install a plate member in the hopper adjacent the bottom thereof and provide means for vibrating the plate to loosen the cohered material and permit it to flow freely through the outlet.

It is among the objects of my present invention to provide a hopper vibrator which does not require sliding engagement of adjacent parts, thereby completely avoiding leaks or openings in the hopper walls. Other objects of my invention include: the provision of a simple, rugged hopper vibrator construction and means for supporting same whereby effective vibration may be imparted to the material inthe hopper with a minimum of power; the provision, in a hopper vibrator which is actuated by a rod extending out through the hopper wall, of a flexible leakproof means for supporting the rod where it passes through the wall; and the provision of a hopper vibrator of the type described which is free from bearing surfaces or the like which are subject to excessive wear due to the abrasive nature of the material handled in such hoppers.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a hopper bottom shown partly 'in section and including my improved vibrator mechanism. a

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawing a conventional form of hopper is illustrated having sloping side walls I, 2, 3

and 4 which converge toward the bottom outlet opening 5. A suitable gate 6 is adapted to close the outlet except when it is desired to discharge 5 material therethrough.

My improved vibrator mechanism comprises a plate I supported on a transverse rod or shaft 8 which in turn is mounted at its ends in trunnions 9 and I0 carried by the walls I and 2 of 10 the hopper. The contour of the plate 1 follows the converging walls I and 2 but is spaced therefrom, as is seen in Figure 1. A centrally disposed rib ll extends down from the upper end of the plate I to its lower end and, as is seen in I Figures 2 and 3, the inner end of the vibrator operating rod I2 is pivotally attached to the flange or rib H by means of a bolt [3.

The operating rod l2 passes freely through a hole It in the wall 3 of the hopper, without contact with the wall, into a housing I5 which supports at its outer end a flexible diaphragm I6. An outer clamp ring l1 and suitable screws ll secure the diaphragm IE to the end flange IQ of l the housing l5 and the central portion or the diaphragm I6 is clamped between the inner clamp ring 20 and a collar member 2| by screws 22. A set screw 23 rigidly secures the collar 2| to the rod I2 and it will be seen that the diaphragm l6 forms an end closure for the-housing I5 and also supports the rod I2 and permits it to move freely in horizontal direction without engagement of any part of the hopper structure.

A drain'hole 24 extends from the lower part of the housing l5 into the hopper and permits the escape of any liquid which may enter the housing through the aperture l4.

Secured to the'outer end of the rod I2 is a vibrator supporting plate 25 on which is mounted a vibrator unit 28. The weight of the vibrator 40 is carried by a flexible strap 21, secured toIthe upper end of the plate 25 and attached at its upper end to a bracket 26 on the hopper wall 3. The vibrator unit 26, as illustrated, is of the electrical type which includes a vibrating armature adapted to strike a series of rapid blows against the housing of the unit, thus causing a vibratory movement to be imparted to the rod l2 through the plate 25. This movement in turn is transmitted to the plate I and serves to prevent or relieve arching of the material in the hopper.

The diaphragm 6 permits the vibratory movement of the rod l2 without imposing appreciable resistance thereto and also serves to maintain the plate 1 in its centered position between the hopper walls. It will be understood that other 4 appended claims.

posed on the'fiexible diaphragm l6. a

A completely air and fluid tight-connection is provided by my diaphragm" l8 whereby free vibratory movement oi the rod l2 and plate I is permitted. Closely fitting sliding supports for the rod II, which may stickor corrode under l0 the conditions to which this type of apparatus is subjected, are eliminated and, in installations where the hopper is employed for handling mixtures of solids and fluids, leakage around the come. Furthermore, when a hopper oithe type referred to is disposed below a boilerto receive the ash therefrom, the interior oithe hopper is subjected to boiler draft conditions. In such 7 cases the pressure in the hopper is usually below 20 atmospheric and my improvedhopper vibrator ,.construction prevents theinfiltration of air into .the hopper and furnace combustion chamber. When the hopper .contains gas under greater than atmospheric pressure my structure also 5 eiiectively prevents the escape. of. such ga's'to the atmosphere and thus I have provided a hopper vibrator which is particularly well adapt- .ed for use with boiler ash hoppers and the like .which operate under other than atmospheric go pressure.

- Although I have described the illustrated embodinient of my invention in considerable detail it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made -35 in the form of apparatus employed without departing from the spirit ot my invention. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the specific embodiment of my hopper vibrator herein shown and described, vbut claim as my invention allflfz the scope of the. 4

forms thereof coming within I claim: 1 1. In a hopper having walls and a bottom outlet u secured to said plate and extending freely through an aperture in a hopper wall, a flexible diaphragm carried by said hopper wall. rigid connections between said diaphragm and said rod,

and. means, disposed externally .0! said diaphragm, for imparting vibratory movement to saidrod and diaphragm, said last named means including aself contained vibrating unit connectedto impart vibratory movement to said diaphragm and a flexible supporting strap secured at one end to said hopper wall and adapted to carry the weight of the vibrating mechanism without restricting the vibratory movement thereof. vibrator operating rod I2 is completely over- 15 2. In a hopper having downwardly extending walls and a bottom outlet opening and-a plate pivotally supported in said hopper and spaced relative to the walls thereof, an operating rod connected to said plate and extending ireely through an opening in one of the hopper walls, a tubular housing surrounding said opening and rod, a flexible diaphragm closing one end of said housing and secured to said rod for supporting and permitting vibratory movement of said rod, a vibrating unit connected to said rod outside of said housing for imparting vibratory movement to the rod, and means secured to the hopper and supporting said vibrating. unit, said means being capable otflexing toward and away from said hopper with the vibratory movement of said rod. 7

3. In a hopper havingdownwardly extending walls and a bottom outlet opening and a plate pivotally supported in said hopper above said bottom outlet opening, a rod secured to said plate and extending freely through an opening in a hopper wall, a flexible diaphragm carried by said hopper wall outside of said openingand connected to said rodfor supporting the latter, a vibrating unit secured to said rod outside of said diaphragm for, imparting vibratory movement to said rod and diaphragm, and flexible meanssecured to thehopper and supporting the weight of "the vibratingmeans without substanopening and a plate pivotally supported in said'i'o l y 1381511011111: h Vibratory m vem n thereof.

hopper above said bottom outlet opening, a rod 1 R. PU RSEL. 

